Jingle bell top



June 26, 1951 w, sg u z 2,558,464

JINGLE BELL TOP Filed Oct. 19, 1949 INVENTOR. @6036! HWJ'c/wuz Ar QE/Vfy Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JINGLE BELL TOP George W. Schultz, Saugus, Calif.

Application Cbctober 19, 1949, Serial No. 122,303 sciaims. (c1. 46 61) This invention relates to a vertically operating top, one make of which is called a Yo-Yo, and more particularly to such a toy which is characterized by the emission of a ringing sound or jingle.

Such tops which emit sound either by means of internal strikers or by loose beads confined within the shell are known. However, in both cases, the sound is supposed to be emitted moreor-less continuously during up and down movement of the top; and in either event-the striking member is liable to become stuck within the spinner as well as to throw it off balance by a change of position. By the present construction, in contrast, there is no chance of the striking members becoming stuck and the strikers always retain their same relative position; in addi tion, the jingle-bell or ringing effect is produced only intermittently, specifically at the bottom or unwound phase of the operating cycle, thereby creating a more pleasing effect.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide such a top which rings" at the bottom of the vertical reciprocating cycle of operation thereof and not during its up and down movement.

Another purpose is to provide a spinning top having tortional means adapted to accelerate rewinding of the top on the cord when the top reaches the end of its unwinding, that is, at the bottom of its vertical course.

Still another object is the provision of such a top wherein the operating cord is spirally wound within a radial channel carried by a bearing sleeve which is rotatably disposed on an axle within the shell of the top, so that the bearing sleeve and attached structure can rotate at least partially within the outer bell-structure or shell of the top.

Yet another feature resides in the provision of annular or doughnut-shaped strikers loosely mounted on laterally projecting pins carried by disks mounted on the bearing sleeve, so that the strikers by centrifugal force contact inwardly projecting lugs or dimples disposed on the shell or bell portions, whereby the bell rings upon rotary movement of the bearing sleeve in relation to the bell.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, the novelty consisting in the features of construction, combination of parts, the unique relations of the members and the relative proportions, disposition, and operation thereof, all as more completely outlined herein and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, which form part of the present specifications Figure 1 is an elevational view of my jingle bell p;

Figure 2 is an outer face view of a half-shell or bell member of the top;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken thru the top along the line 3--3 of Figure l; and

Figures 4 and 5 are inner face views of a bell member as viewed along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, showing the striker member hitting the bell projections at the bottom of the top course.

As illustrated, a pair of oppositely facing, inwardly opening dished or resonant members or bells I0, l2 are secured to opposite ends of a central shaft I4 by rivets H3 or other means, the rims I8, 20 of the bells being spaced apart a small amount. Between the bells, a tubular bearing sleeve 22 is rotatably mounted on the shaft so as to revolve freely thereabout. At its one end, the sleeve is restrained against axial movement by means of a cotter pin 24 inserted thru the shaft, while at its other end, a longitudinally projecting lug 2B is disposed in the path of a radial stop 28, for a purpose which Will be shortly evident.

Fixedly. secured to the bearing sleeve 22 about its midportion, are a pair of radial disks 3!), 32 of a circumference generally corresponding to the perimeter of the adjacent bells, being disposed between the rims I8, 20 and mutually spaced apart so as to define an outwardly opening channel 34. The operating cord 36 is connected at one end to the sleeve portion 38 between the two beveled disks, and thence wound upon itself in a spiral pattern within the channel 34 until its outer terminal loop 40 is brought adjacent the bell rims I8, 20

Each disk 30, 32 carries a pair of axially projecting cylindrical studs 42 about midway between the center and perimeter of the disk, each stud having a flared head 44 formed or attached at its outer end. A metallic washer or annulus I6 is loosely disposed on each stud between its flanged terminus 44 and a cotter pin 48 which extends thru the stud. As seen particularly in Figures 4-5, the central opening 59 of the washer is considerably larger than the diameter of the stud 42 so that the centrifugal force of the revolving disks 33, 32 throws the washers to an outer position shown in Figure 5. In such position, if the bells l0, 12 are not rotating at the same speed as the disks, the washers will strike against successive dimples or depressions 52 formed along their pathway in the adjacent bell H3 or [2.

Accordingly, when the player inserts a finger thru the loop 46 and allows the top to drop or unwind from his hand, the bells it, l2 and disks 3'0, 32 rotate in unison, locked together by contact of the lug 26 and stop 28. When the bottom of the throw is reached, the angular momentum of the bells It, l2 and axle I4 cause them to continue in a rotary path until. the stop 60 28 has come around. to the other side of the lug Thus it will be seen that I have provided a highly effective, easy operating and comparatively simple toy. While I have shown and described in some detail a presently preferred .embcdiment of my top, it is to be understood that various modifications may be. made in the construction and operation thereof within the spirit and scope of the subsequently claimed invention which it is my intention to claim broadly within the limitations imposed by the prior art.

I claim;

1. A reciprocable top of the character described, comprising in combination: an axle; a resonant member fixedly secured to said axle, said member having at least one laterally extending projection; a bearing sleeve mounted on said axle; a channel-forming element carried by said sleeve adjacent the resonant member; an operating cord disposed in said channel with one end afiixed to the bearing sleeve therein; stop means disposed on the axle cooperable with the sleeve to provide for simultaneous movement Of said axle and sleeve; and. at least one striker carried by the channel-forming element in the path of the projection of the resonant member so as to contact the latter and cause it to vibrate upon relative rotary movement of the bearing and axle, upon the top rapidly unwinding from the cord.

2. The top of claim 1 wherein said stop means include a longitudinally projecting tongue carried by the bearing sleeve, and an elevation located on. said axle in line with the tongue and disposed, to abut against opposite sides thereof upon'rotary movement of the axle in opposite directions.

3. A reciprocable top of the character described, comprising in combination; an axle; a

pair of resonant members fixedly secured to said axle, said members being laterally spaced apart and having inwardly extending projections; a 7 bearing sleeve mounted on said axle between the resonant members; a pair of disks carried by said sleeve and laterally spaced apart so as to define a channel there'oetween; an operating cord disposed in said channel with one end ailixed' to the bearing sleeve therein; stop means disposed on the axle cooperable with the sleeve to provide for simultaneous movement of said axle and sleeve; and strikers carried by said disks so as to be disposed by centrifugal force in the path of the projections of the resonant members so as to cause the latter to vibrate upon relative rotary movement of the bearing and axle, upon the top rapidly unwinding from the cord.

4. The top of claim 3 wherein said disks are provided with outwardly projecting pins disposed adjacent the projections of the resonant mem- 4 bers, and said strikers comprise washers loosely mounted on said pins and having a central opening of greater diameter than the diameter of the pins whereby the washers will pass beneath a resonant projection after striking the same.

5. A reciprocable top of the character described, comprising in combination; an axle; a pair of resonant members fixedly secured to said axle, said members being laterally spaced apart and having inwardly extending projections; a

' bearing sleeve mounted on said axle between the resonant members; a pair of disks carried by said sleeve and laterally spaced apart so as to define a channel therebetween; an operating cord disposed in said channel with one end affixed to the bearing sleeve therein; a longitudinally projecting tongue carried by the bearing sleeve and an elevation located on said'axle in line with the tongue and disposed to abut against opposite sides thereof upon rotary movement-of the axle in opposite directions; outwardly projecting pins carried by said disks adjacent the resonant members; and washers loosely mounted on said pins, which washers have a central opening of greater diameter than. the diameter of the pins, whereby the washers by centrifugal force will strike the projections of the resonant members so as to cause the latter to vibrate upon relative rotary movement of the bearing and axle upon' the top rapidly unwinding from the cord, and will then pass beneath the projections.

6. A vertically reciprocal top of the character described, comprising in combination: a channelforrning member including an axle and a pair of perpendicular walls radially projecting therefrom and laterally spaced apart so as to permit an operating cord to be spirally wound upon itself I in the channel formed between the walls, with 'members by centrifugal force upon relative rotation of the channel-forming member with respect to the resonant members; and stop means adjacent at least one of said resonant members coacting with stop means adjacent said channelforming member to provide for simultaneous movement of said channel-forming member and resonant members whereby upon unwinding of the cord in the channel member said coacting stop means will permit of relative movement between said channel-forming element 'and said resonant members and said striking element will strike said projections. a GEORGE H. W. SCHULTZ.

7 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record. in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,157,166 Lukstat Oct. 19,1915 1,419,402 Mosher June 13, 1922 Singer June 2 4, 1941 

